Two becoming one

"Don't plead with me to abandon you or to return [to my homeland] and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God...may the Lord punish me...if anything but death separates you and me." ~Ruth 1:16-17

Every person (and women specifically) is looking for security. Every person wants to be fully known and fully loved. They want to be protected and cared for. They want to know they are safe. 

The world at the time that Ruth spoke these words was very dark with death, disease and famine. In this already dismal world, Ruth had lost the only hope she had. Her husband. In that culture and time, the death of a husband meant more than just losing a companion. It meant losing your status in society, your income and your promise of a life and a future. 

Women in that culture would have been right to go back to their homeland to grieve and marry to simply maintain a normal life. But Ruth shines her humility and love in choosing to stay true to her commitment, not only to her husband but also to his family.

Instead of running back to familiarity, Ruth displays a beautiful reality of HESED love that is not fully captured in the translation. She demonstrates her faithful commitment to Naomi and the family, her loyal love, and her generosity by staying with Naomi (her mother-in-law) even after the death of her husband. She demonstrates that when she said "I do," it was a covenant that went beyond her own satisfaction. It was a covenant to the entire family. 

As my love and I move forward to enter into our own covenant, the reality of this account has touched me in a different way. 

In Liberia, families enter into a covenant together in addition to the couple getting married. The bride's family gives their daughter to the groom's family, who promise to love her and protect her and take care of her. In Liberia, you don't marry a person. You marry a family. A community. 

Just like when you and I enter into a covenant with the Lord, we "marry" the body of believers that have also agreed to follow and worship him (i.e. the church). In fact, the Greek word for "fellowship" is "koinonia" which is also the same word for sexual intercourse!

Now, I don't want to get things out of proportion, but this culture and these ideas have helped me see something I used to miss.

The idea of community is different here. When you are a part of a community, you are a PART of that community. Even if you never see or don't even know the people, you are still connected by a common bond. You will fight for that person.  Protect that person. Die for that person. Because they are a part of YOU. 

I have been challenged to hold the same view with my fellow believers. 

We are all part of the same tribe. 

Believers in India, Liberia, Germany, and America are all bonded together by the powerful person of Christ. 

As we look forward to heaven, we look forward to the day when our brothers and sisters from every nation, tribe, people, and language will stand before the throne of God with white robes and palm branches worshipping the Lord with a united voice (Revelation 7:9-10). 

We will finally experience the reality of the HESED love of God that has not given up on us but has demonstrated his enduring commitment, loyal love, and generosity by staying committed to us even when we didn't stay committed to him. 

And that is one picture we hope to display on the day of our dowry payment. 

Two individuals from different cultures, coming together as one flesh to worship and serve God.

Two families from different nations, coming together as one body of Christ to demonstrate His glory.

Two tribes representing MANY people groups coming together to worship forever in Spirit and in truth.

12 more days until we prayerfully display this beautiful reality! 

The Comforts of Home

It's funny how God works. 

I had typed out an entirely different post (maybe you already read it!)  Then I went to post it on Instagram and the Spirit changed the message!

"Leaving the old comforts of home for the new comforts of home to look forward to the redeemed comforts of home."

On June 16, 2025, I left all the comforts and familiarity of my old earthly home to come to my new "home" in my soon-to-be HUSBAND!

And what a sweet home I have found in him. 

He is the patient, patient, patient (did I mention patient!) constant to my ever-changing wild and crazy ideas. 

He is the rest to my work. 

He is my rock in the storm. 

He is so wonderful! 

But in addition to gaining a new home in my love, uprooting my life has shown me that home is where Christ is.  

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ~Matthew 6:21

As I learn to view Christ as my home, it changes my whole outlook on life. 

When Christ is my home, heaven is the place I long for. 

When Christ is my home, my house and my job are temporary. 

When Christ is my home, I see a person's soul rather than their poor behavior. 

When Christ is my home, I have freedom to love my love DEEPLY and FEARLESSLY. 

So now, as I look forward to marrying my love, I reflect on the beauty of the lesson I have learned (and am still learning!

The "home" I am looking for is an "imperishable, undefiled, and unfading" inheritance "kept in heaven for [me]." (1 Peter 1:4)

My home is in heaven. 

And when my home is in heaven, things on earth start to look a little different. 

So as I start a new chapter of this journey with my love, I praise the Lord. 

My physical "home" used to be for me. 

Then the Lord brought a beautiful partner to walk through life with as a new "home."

And together we are striving toward our eternal home. And that is the greatest home of all. <3

13 more days!

Now you see me, now you don't...

 "Hello? Hello??" 

As my love and I started communicating on the phone, this was a common phrase said often by one of us as we navigated reception issues, power outages, language & cultural differences, and finishing minutes (think TrackPhone days!). 

There were many times that I would ask a question and only understand 1 out of every 4 words that came back my way. 

Communication in beginning (and continuing!) a relationship is hard. Imagine only knowing every 4th word of what the other person was saying!

It was difficult. But we didn't give up. 

The differences motivated us to learn more and find different ways to communicate. 

"Let me text this one." 

"Let's try video. Nope, not enough reception. Send me a photo when you get better reception."

"Let me move locations." 

"Where can I learn more about that part of your culture?"

When I heard the now-familiar "beep, beep" of What's App trying to connect the call, the following verse in 1 Corinthians 13 started coming to mind:

"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face" (verse 12a).

As I looked at Milton's reflection through those broken phone calls, I was able to get a small picture of who he was and what his country/upbringing was like. And then I came to him. I saw his full face. Held his hand. Met his family. Listened to stories of those who had gone before. Learned that "dirt" means "trash" and "Hello" is only for the afternoon. 

My whole world opened up. Things that never made sense before finally. Made. SENSE!

My understanding of Milton grew more in 8 weeks than in the 10 months of broken communication leading up to it. 

This is such a beautiful reality of heaven. 

Right now, we can only see a reflection of who God is in His Son, in His Word, and in His broken (yet graciously redeemed!) church. There are times that I look at God and things just don't make sense. Sometimes my sinful heart can't see past my anger. Sometimes my finite mind can't make sense of a specific theology or happening in the world. Sometimes I am simply tempted to cut off all communication. 

And then, I remember. 

This is only a reflection. 

I didn't give up on Milton. I found ways to communicate with him. My relationship with God is the same. Just because I don't understand why...(insert difficult understanding here)...doesn't mean I stop communicating with him. 

When I didn't understand something about Milton, I found ways to understand it better. When I don't understand something about God, I can do the same thing. 

"Let me text this one."  - "Let me read your Word about this one."

"Show me a picture." - "God, help me understand. Bring me someone who has walked a similar path."

"Let me move locations."  - "Let me go on a walk away from the distractions to see if I understand better."

"Where can I learn more about that part of your culture?" - "What theology or Biblical teaching might help me understand this better?"

As we seek to know and love God in this broken world, there will be difficult times. There will be times we don't understand and we cannot see how it could possibly work. But we continue to seek His face and trust that when we get to heaven, we will know. We will know fully. 

"Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12b)

What a beautiful picture displayed in marriage. Before marriage, we only know in part, and then we are fully known. 

Here on earth, we only know the Lord in part, but in heaven we will know Him fully. 

As we look at the faint and dim reflection, may we remember the best is yet to come. <3 

14 days!

Dark paths, Dark coasters, and the Light of God's Word

 Have you even been on a dark roller coaster? 

The kind where you strap yourself into the car and entrust it with your life as you are led around curves, loops, and drops that you don't see coming? 

This is what life has felt like the last two years. Despite our best efforts, my life with Milton has been very unexpected and unpredictable. At one point in this season, I looked at the following month. I didn't know which country I would be living in, who I would be living with, how I was going to get money to live, or whether I would be married or unmarried, among other life questions. I considered how I "should" be scared and uncertain. 

It is in this season that the Lord has taught me the depth of truth in Psalm 119:105:

"Your word is a light onto my feet and a light onto my path."

When you are walking on a dark path, the only thing you can see is what the light is showing you. You can't see the next turn, the dark cliff to the side, the animal lurking in the dark. You can only see the next step. Even typing this is giving me the heebeejeebees. 

Yet, a dark roller coaster sounds thrilling and exciting?! How???

Both the dark path and the dark roller coaster are essentially the same...I don't know where I'm going. I don't know what to expect when I get there. I don't know what surprises are waiting for me. 

But here's the difference. The dark roller coaster is a controlled path that has been tested. So when we get into that roller coaster car and strap ourselves in, we feel safe. We can trust the process. Even though we don't know the details, we know we will be okay and even enjoy the ride!

The Lord has helped me see that in my life. He is the trusted roller coaster car. When I look around to all the unexpected turns, drops, and loops, I become overwhelmed and miss the excitement and joy of the journey. When I focus on Him and know that I am definitely safe in His car, I can fully enjoy every twist, turn, and loop knowing that "I know how the story ends." (Thank you, Shane and Shane!)

May the Word of the Lord and the truth about Him that the Word reveals continue to guide our every step. We serve the Sovereign Creator of the Universe who loves us and cares for us. He will hold us and keep us to the end. 

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." ~Philippians 1:6

15 more days until this earthly union <3

Undefinite amount of days until our heavenly one <3

Life is a journey...

"[Life] is a journey, but even the journey itself is joyful when I'm doing it holding the hand of my Savior and trusting him all along the way." ~Joyful Journey podcast introduction

The quote above opens one of my favorite podcasts. It reminds me that life can be full of adventure and unexpected turns, BUT the companion of the journey makes the experience worth every step. 

The other day I woke up in a panic. 

The list of things to do felt insurmountable and I didn't know how I was going to complete all those tasks with a worn-out body exhausted from the heat. 

I felt the Lord gently guide my eyes upward to him. "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things." ~Colossians 3:2

It is a verse that has come back to mind many times in the last few months. 

I am adjusting to a new culture, a new language, a new profession, a new life stage, a new environment, new people, and so many other changes! I am planning a wedding, preparing for a marriage, planning, learning, and praying. Sometimes my mind is drawn to fear. Fear of messing up. Fear of saying the wrong thing or doing the wrong thing. Fear of offending others unintentionally. Fear of not loving well. 

When those moments come, the Lord gently reminds me to look UP. 

When I "look up" (sometimes figuratively, sometimes literally), I see my beautiful Savior holding the hand of a little girl...me. "I am right here with you," he reminds me (Matthew 28:20). 

I have a Father who is the Creator of the World (Genesis 1:1). I have a Savior who has volunteered to cover me with His righteousness if I trust Him with my sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). I have a Holy Spirit who is interceding for me (Romans 8:26-27). I have nothing to fear (Isaiah 41:10). 

As we reach the final days of the beautiful season of engagement and approach the beginning days of a lovely season of marriage, I want to keep my eyes focused on the One who loved me first and the One who loves me best (1 John 4:7). 

16 days!

"Auntie, is that your real hair?"

 Language is such a powerful tool. 

I was recently contributing to a teacher workshop in a nearby village. I was practicing speaking Gio (the local language) with some of the children. 

One child asked, "Auntie, is that your real hair?" 

I explained that it was and continued to practice my Gio. 

"A go Kwiplay" (I am from America.)

The little girl looked at me in surprise. She thought I was Liberian!

I don't know much Gio. I know how to greet someone, say my name, ask how someone is doing, and tell where I am from. But even the little that I do know was enough to instantly create connection. 

The other day, my love and I were talking about the Tower of Babel. We realized that when the language scattered, so did cultures. God created divisions among people because of their wicked, evil hearts to use unity to accomplish their own goal. Pride is such a pervasive evil, even in our own hearts today!

We continue to see the fall-out from that day as we struggle to understand and truly love those with different background, languages, and mindsets. 

But as we move through life, we seek to fix the error of our forefathers long ago and seek to be united in faith for the sake of God's glory. May God continue to be glorified! 

The good news is...restoration is coming! And we look forward to that day!

"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from EVERY NATION, from ALL TRIBES and PEOPLES and LANGUAGES, standing before the throne and before the Lamb." ~Revelation 7:9

I just want to help...

Last week we were riding on the motorbike to run some errands in a nearby town. I looked around and saw all the familiar sights...families cooking below simple roofs to find shelter and their one meal of rice for the day. Children walking miles with HUGE bundles of sticks on their heads and no shoes on their feet. People of all ages bathing and washing in the river, their only source of water. Little boys running around and building motorbikes because their parents couldn't afford the $100 to send them to school. 

I started to think about all the ways I could help fix Liberia's hardships. 

And then...I realized I was seeing the wrong thing. 

When I started mountain biking, my friend told me to "look at where you want to go." In biking, your bike will follow where you look. If you look at the turn ahead, you and your bike with navigate the turn with relative ease. If you look at the tree in fear, you will likely run yourself right into the tree.

In this case, meditating on the hurt and brokenness of Liberia will not lead me to peace. Yes, I need to be aware of the brokenness and be obedient to assist how I can, but Jesus told us that the poor will always be among us (Matthew 26:11). Until we reach heaven, we cannot solve all the world's problems. Only restoration can do that. 

So until then, I choose to look at the beauty. I choose to see the hard-working mothers, the strong children who walk miles without complaint, the love of community huddled under a thatched roof, and children that find incredible privilege in going to school each day. I praise the Lord for His common grace, the unique abilities that He has given His children, and the beautiful image-bearers that reflect His beautiful character. 

And when an opportunity to help comes along, I will step forward in faith and love. I will strive to continue with the mind of Christ who came to serve. And that starts with seeing the beauty.

Praise the Lord!